Minimising biodiversity loss in the face of large scale deforestation relies heavily on protecting selected areas of habitat within reserves. However, limited funding means it is necessary to prioritise areas for protection. Most current prioritisation schemes aim to protect the greatest
amount of threatened biodiversity possible within a limited area. Here I describe a complementary approach, based on the systematic identification of areas in which species tend to be inherently extinction-prone. This is a more forward-looking approach to global conservation planning that
should allow planners to anticipate and prevent future species declines in many parts of the world that still retain much of their original forest cover.

The International Forestry Review is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal that publishes original research and review papers on all aspects of forest policy and science, with an emphasis on issues of transnational significance. It is published four times per year, in March, June, September and December. Theme editions are a regular feature and attract a wide audience.